Vibration-damping mounting

ABSTRACT

A vibration-damping mounting for a motor on a support comprises a holding means at the motor side and a receiving means arranged at the support. An elastic element which has a cavity therein is arranged between the holding means and the receiving means. The cavity of the element is closed at its end portion towards the receiving means and that end portion is held in positively locking relationship in a holder socket of the support.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of German Utility model applicationSerial No 20 2005 004 271.4 filed Mar. 15, 2005, the subject-matter ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a vibration-damping mounting, for mounting amotor on a support.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One form of vibration-damping mounting for mounting a motor on asupport, as can be found in EP 1 265 022 A2, comprises a holding meansat the motor side, and a receiving means which is arranged on thesupport. An elastic element which has a cavity therein is arrangedbetween the holding means and the receiving means. That structuretherefore involves a generally sleeve-shaped bushing of substantiallycolumn-shaped configuration with an upper and a lower opening for afixing stud to pass therethrough, the fixing stud being fixed to thesupport. The bushing is fixed in a channel provided in the lower regionof the fixing stud. At its upper end portion the fixing stud has amushroom-shaped cap, the largest diameter of which is larger than theinside width of the upper opening of the bushing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a vibration-damping mountingfor an electric motor, which while being of a simple structure can beinexpensively assembled.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vibration-dampingmounting for an electric motor, comprising a small number of componentswhich can be easily assembled together by simple mutual engagement.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide avibration-damping mounting for a motor on a support which affordseffective damping properties combined with a secure mounting action.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention the foregoingand other objects are achieved by a vibration-damping mounting formounting a motor on a support comprising a holding means at the motorside, a receiving means arranged at the support and an elastic elementwhich has a cavity therein and which is operatively disposed between theholding means and the receiving means. The cavity in the element, at itsend portion which is towards the receiving means, is closed. The endportion of the element is held in positively locking relationship in aholder socket on the support.

As will be seen from the description hereinafter of preferredembodiments of the structure according to the invention, the fact thatthe end portion of the elastic element is fitted into the holder socketforming part of the receiving means on the support and held thereinmeans that it is possible to dispense with additional components,thereby affording a cost advantage as well as ease of assembly.

In a preferred feature of the invention, the configuration of the endportion of the element corresponds at least in portion-wise manner tothe inner shape of the holder socket, wherein that holder socket shapemay be in particular cylindrical. The fact that the element is in acondition of bearing in positively locking relationship against theholder socket in the cylindrical cavity therein provides that theelement is firmly held in position and thus affords a stable mountingeffect.

In another preferred feature the mounting according to the invention hasa first positively locking securing means arranged at the portion of theelement, which is towards the motor side, and a first supporting meansfor the holding means, while there is a second positively lockingsecuring means in the form of a groove in the wall of the elasticelement. In that case it may be desirable for a wall of the groove toform a supporting means for being supported on the support on which themounting is to be fixed.

In another preferred feature of the invention the end portion of theelastic element, that is towards the support, is of a smallercross-section than the remaining or main portion of that element. Thaton the one hand facilitates engagement of the element in position whileon the other hand also affording a saving of material.

In yet another preferred feature of the invention the respective endportions of the elastic element have a cone or taper. That ensures thatthe element can be easily and quickly pushed into the holding means andthe holder socket respectively.

Another preferred feature can provide that the receiving means on thesupport has at least one support mounting means which can engage intothe above-mentioned groove of the second securing means. The supportmounting means can be arranged on the holder socket.

The above-mentioned groove may be in the form of an annular groove andthe support mounting means can have at least one circular rib.

In another preferred feature the cavity in the elastic element canextend from the main portion thereof into the end portion.

That configuration affords particularly good damping properties, inparticular even when the end portion is in contact relationship overwide regions of its outside periphery or end faces in the interior ofthe holder socket.

Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the description hereinafter of preferred embodiments byway of example thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows a view in section through a first embodiment of thevibration-damping mounting for mounting a motor on a support, and

FIG. 2 shows a view in section through a second embodiment of thevibration-damping mounting for mounting a motor on a support.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring firstly to FIG. 1, shown therein is a vibration-dampingmounting indicated generally by reference numeral 1 for mounting a motor(not shown) on a support generally indicated at 2. The mounting 1 has aholding means 3 at the motor side. The holding means 3 can engage forexample a mounting casing portion of an electric motor. Provided on thesupport 2 is a receiving means generally identified by reference 4.Reference 5 denotes an elastic element which is operatively disposedbetween the holding means 3 and the receiving means 4. At its lower endin FIG. 1 which in the assembled condition of the mounting 1 is towardsthe receiving means 4, the elastic element 5 has an end portion 9. Thereceiving means 4 includes, arranged on the support 2 in upstandingrelationship as shown in FIG. 1, a holder socket 11 which embraces theend portion 9 of the elastic element 5 in positively lockingrelationship and holds it in place. The elastic element 5 has a cavity5′ therein, the cavity 5′ being closed at the end portion 9 of theelastic element 5, which is towards the receiving means 4. Theconfiguration of the end portion 9 corresponds at least in portion-wisemanner to the inner shape of the holder socket 11, being for examplecylindrical. The holder socket 11 can be for example a projection whichis suitably formed in position by for example casting or molding in someother fashion and is thus generally of a cylindrical shape in theillustrated embodiment.

The element 5 with the cavity 5′ is generally in the shape of a bushingand, at a portion 6 which is towards the motor (not shown), has a firstpositively locking securing means 7 and a first supporting means 8 forthe mounting means 3 for the motor. The positively locking securingmeans 7 in this embodiment is formed by a groove 13, while thesupporting means 8 for the holding means 3 is formed by a side wall 12of the groove 13.

A second positively locking securing means 10 is provided in the form ofa further groove as indicated at 13 in the wall of the elastic element 5in the lower portion of the element 5, which is towards the support 2.In that case also a side wall 12 of the groove 13 constituting thesecond securing means 10 forms a supporting means 10′ for the support 2.

The end portion 9 which is towards the support 2 is of a smallercross-section than the remaining main portion as indicated at 15 of theelement 5. That affords a particularly wide shoulder for the supportingmeans 10 on the element 5.

The receiving means 4 on the support 2 has a support mounting means 16which in the illustrated embodiment is arranged on the holder socket 11and engages into the groove 13 in the lower part of the elastic element5. In the illustrated embodiment each respective groove 13 is in theform of an annular groove, in which case the support mounting means 16and also the holding means 3 on the upper portion of the element eachcomprise a circular rib 18.

It can be clearly seen from FIG. 1 that the respective end portions 6and 9 of the elastic element 5 are formed with a cone or taper asindicated at 14. In an embodiment which is not illustrated herein it canbe provided that at least the cone or taper at the lower portion of theelement is replaced by a cylindrical portion which completely fills thecylindrical internal space in the holder socket 11. In that way it ispossible for the support which is generally formed by a housing portionto be left at that location with an opening which is substantiallypressure-tightly or air-tightly closed off after insertion of theelement 5.

In the illustrated embodiment the cavity 5′ in the elastic element 5extends from the main portion 15 thereof into the end portion 9.

Reference will now be made to FIG. 2 showing a further embodiment of thevibration-damping mounting for mounting a motor to a support. It will beclearly seen from FIG. 2 that the general configuration of thisstructure is closely similar to that shown in FIG. 1 so that fulldetails thereof will not be described again at this juncture. It will beseen that, in this embodiment, the holding means 3 is provided with aslot 17 which makes it possible for the elastic element indicated at 5in FIG. 1 to be pushed into the holding means 3, instead of being pushedthrough an opening in the holding means.

It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to theembodiments described and illustrated herein solely by way of example.Thus it is for example possible for the configuration of the elasticelement 5 not to be cylindrical but cuboidal. It is also possible forthe grooves 13 not to be annular grooves but to be provided only over apredetermined portion, in Which case the wall thickness of the bushingformed by the element 5 can suitably vary from the structure illustratedin FIG. 1.

It will be appreciated that various modifications and alterations may bemade in the foregoing structures in accordance with the inventionwithout thereby departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A vibration-damping mounting for mounting a motor on a supportcomprising: a holding means at the motor side, a receiving meansarranged at the support and including a holder socket, an elasticelement having a cavity therein and arranged between the holding meansand the receiving means, the elastic element having an end portion whichin the assembled condition of the mounting is towards the receivingmeans and the cavity of the element being closed at said end portion,and means for holding said end portion of the element in positivelylocking relationship in the holder socket of the support.
 2. A mountingas set forth in claim 1 wherein the configuration of the end portioncorresponds at least in portion-wise manner to the inner shape of theholder socket.
 3. A mounting as set forth in claim 2 wherein the innershape of the holder socket is cylindrical.
 4. A mounting as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said element has a further portion that is towards themotor side, and comprising a first positively locking securing meansarranged at said further portion of the element, a first supportingmeans for the holding means, and a second positively locking securingmeans in the form of a groove in the wall of the element.
 5. A mountingas set forth in claim 4 wherein said groove has a side wall forming asupporting means for the support.
 6. A mounting as set forth in claim. 1wherein said the end portion of said element is of a smallercross-section than the remaining main portion of the element.
 7. Amounting as set forth in claim 4 wherein the receiving means on thesupport has at least one support mounting means.
 8. A mounting as setforth in claim 7 wherein the support mounting means is arranged at theholder socket and engages into the groove.
 9. A mounting as set forth inclaim 7 wherein the groove is in the form of an annular groove and thesupport mounting means has at least one circular rib.
 10. A mounting asset forth in claim 1 wherein the respective end portions of the elementare formed with a taper.
 11. A mounting as set forth in claim 1 whereinthe cavity of said element extends from the main portion thereof intosaid end portion.
 12. A mounting as set forth in claim 1 wherein theholding means has a slot adapted to permit said element to be insertedfrom the side into the holding means.
 13. An assembly comprising asupport and a vibration-damping mounting for mounting a motor to saidsupport, comprising a holder socket on said support, a holding means forcarrying a said motor, an elastic element having a cavity therein andhaving first and second end portions, a first end portion in theassembled condition of the mounting to the support being towards saidholder socket and the cavity being closed at said first end portion, andmeans for holding said first end portion of said elastic element inpositively locking relationship in said holder socket of the support,the arrangement being such that the elastic element which is held tosaid holder socket in positively locking relationship therewith isoperatively disposed between said holding means and said holder socket.